Indonesia, US announce new marine conservation zones in North Maluku

Antara 3 Apr 19;

Morotai, N Maluku (ANTARA) - Three new Marine Conservation Zones (KKP) in North Maluku were declared by Indonesia and the United States to commemorate seven decades of diplomatic relations between both nations, specifically in the marine and fishery sector.

"Indonesia's marine resources are the most unique in the world. When we mark the 70th anniversary of our relations with Indonesia, we reflect on the success in partnership in the course of several decades, including protecting the biological diversity and improving Indonesia's precious marine natural resources. The unified efforts remain crucial for sustainable earning, given our resources, and for the welfare of the current and future generations," US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr remarked during the declaration on Morotai Island District, here, Wednesday.

Donovan Jr and Deputy Governor of North Maluku Muhammad Natsir Thoib and Morotai District Head Beny Laos declared the three new KKP, spanning 226 thousand hectares, in North Maluku.

The USAID and Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry have cooperated for the implementation of the Sustained Ecosystems Advanced (SEA) project to boost fishery production and reinforce food resilience in the provinces of North Maluku, Maluku and West Papua.

Maritime Affairs and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti commended the decades-long cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and the United States.

The minister affirmed that the cooperation has assisted Indonesia in bolstering efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity in various regions.

Reporter: Abdul Fatah, Fardah Assegaf
Editor: Rahmad Nasution


Indonesia, US declare new protected marine areas in North Maluku
Ghina Ghaliya The Jakarta Post 4 Apr 19;

Supported by United States of America for International Development (USAID), North Maluku province declared its three new Marine Protected Areas (KKP3K) covering about 226,000 hectares of its seas at its 70th-anniversary event on Tuesday.

The three areas are Sula Island (117,960 ha), Rao Island (65,521 ha) and Makian Island (42,799 ha).

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the cooperation between Indonesia and the US that had been established over the past seven decades had helped Indonesia in improving its protection of marine biodiversity.

"The opening of these three new KKP3Ks in North Maluku will certainly help us to achieve sustainable fisheries and food security goals. We hope that the two countries will continue the collaboration in achieving that goal," he said.

North Maluku’s waters provide livelihoods for more than 34,000 households, according to Deputy Governor Natsir Thoib.

US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr. said that besides North Maluku, USAID had supported the ministry’s efforts in increasing fish production and food security in Maluku and West Papua.

“We were happy to contribute by offering technical support through USAID. As a result […] an area about the same size as the whole island of Morotai will now be protected. This will support conservation, fishing and tourism,” Donovan said.

He said the US had been partnering with Indonesia for 30 years in the marine and fisheries sector. He said the sector had improved conservation and sustainable use of Indonesia’s valuable and unique marine environment.

“This is to the benefit of both of our countries,” he said.

USAID Indonesia mission director, Erin E. McKee, said USAID Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (SEA) had supported local administrations in managing 8 million ha of waters in the three provinces.

“Through our cooperation in the maritime sector, USAID SEA has supported the government's vision […] to protect vital coral reefs through the marine spatial plans that equip them with important instruments to implement better natural-resource governance," McKee said.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Director-General for Territorial Sea Management Brahmantya Satyamurti said the government and USAID had agreed to work together on 20 million ha of KKP3Ks by 2020.

“The establishment of the KKP3Ks will protect the main marine habitats and species that will directly increase fisheries productivity and ensure food security for local communities," Brahmantya said.